Chat about Emporia Mainstreet
June 17, 2008
Emporia Main Street Director Kayla Oney will chat downtown and the work her organization does. Submit your questions
Moderator: Today's chat guest is Kayla Oney, executive director of Emporia Main Street, the downtown development organization. The chat will last half an hour, and Kayla will answer as many readers' questions as she can. If you have a question for her, please post it soon. Be sure to refresh your screen periodically to keep up with the discussion. We'll start with a question about Main Street projects.
moderator: What are the major projects Emporia Main Street is working on?
Kayla Oney: Emporia Main Street continued the second year of the entrepreneurship course with Flint Hills Technical College this Spring with a total of fourteen students enrolled. Entrepreneurship development and providing resources to individuals interested in starting their own business continues to be a priority for Emporia Main Street. The course included a wealth of information and resources, including guests from each subject area to share their knowledge with participants. This class is also available to current business owners that may want to ‘brush up’ in a few areas of entrepreneurship that have changed since they started in business or are exploring the idea of expanding. Another resource available to entrepreneurs is the Incentives Without Walls program and the Trusler Revolving Loan fund, both of which offer 0% interest loans for business start-ups and expansions. Over $40 million has been invested in downtown Emporia over the last fifteen years and over $400,000 has been loaned or granted through the IWW program. Just in the last year, IWW funds have been used to expand three businesses and the Trusler Revolving Loan fund has been used to start-up one new business and expand another business. Emporia Main Street members are also eligible for Design Assistance through Kansas Main Street, which allows a business interested in a façade renovation to access professional services at no cost. The Community Initiated Development study is a comprehensive plan for the future of downtown development and incorporates citizen needs/requests with design and development guidelines for completing a development. This plan, also know as CID, gives a blueprint for the next 30-50 years of the physical aspects of downtown. The ultimate goal is to utilize the information in recruiting and retaining businesses, as well as developing housing in the downtown district to encourage vibrancy. Coupled with Main Street incentives and other grant opportunities, it is Emporia Main Street’s goal to be proactive in downtown development, ultimately developing the community.
moderator: What are the biggest challenges facing downtowns?
Kayla Oney: Downtowns everywhere are facing economic challenges, but Emporia’s downtown is actually ahead of most communities our size because of the conscious efforts of volunteers and the community of Emporia to revitalize downtown. Challenges for most downtowns include a development trend going away from entrepreneurship, sprawl—the concept of a community’s core or certain areas deteriorating as a city grows, community support, and competition with large retailers. Getting people involved is challenge also with volunteerism and entrepreneurs. If the Emporia community needs something, whether it is a product or service, entrepreneurs are needed to supply those goods and services, thus decreasing market leakage. If someone is interested in getting involved in Emporia Main Street, there are four different committees to choose from in the areas of organization, design, promotion and business enhancement. Visit www.emporiamainstreet.com to contact us about joining a committee. Citizens can also join Main Street as an individual citizen supporter.
moderator: If you were talking with a business prospect what wouuld tell them are the benefits of being located downtown as opposed to being located in West Emporia?
Kayla Oney: Downtown is a pedestrian oriented center and offers a variety of unique goods and services in relatively close vicinity. Downtown Emporia is the center of city & county government, destination retailers like Madelynn’s, The Sweet Granada, Jock’s Nitch Sporting Goods, Prairie Pieces Quilt Shop and others, unique dining like Amanda’s Bakery & Café, Bad Ol’ Bern’s BBQ, Wheat State Grille, Casa Ramos, UPers, Bobby D’s BBQ, and Java Cat, just for example. The University is a strong anchor in the downtown district, Several cultural opportunities are downtown also like the library, arts council, museum, Farmers Market, zoo, Granada Theatre, and Veteran’s Memorial. There is also a wide variety of entertainment downtown with night life and performances at ESU, Live in the Lot, Brown Bag concerts, sports events at White Auditorium, Emporia Arts Council and the soon to be finished Granada Theatre. Downtown Emporia is a perfect place for new business incubators to test a market for the customer base. Downtown really is the heart of the community; it gives residents a sense of identity and place. It is where parades and festivals take place and is a strong source of pride for citizens. A strong downtown signifies a strong community, which is beneficial for every form of business including industry, retail, government, manufacturing and service businesses. Any business or individual in Emporia can be members of Emporia Main Street and most membership benefits are not bound by the downtown district. Access to training, promotions, volunteering, business development and events are available to all members and are worth thousands of dollars, being reinvested in the community.
powercat: What is being done about the high number of vacant businesses downtown? There is one whole block that is empty.
Kayla Oney: The city of Emporia has been suffered some economic hardship this past year and there are storefront vacancies throughout the community. Several new businesses opened or expanded this past year downtown, including Amanda’s Bakery & Café, Sherry’s Gift Gallery, UPers Diner, Walburn’s Fitness, Rasor Apparel and more are coming soon! These individually owned businesses and businesses that have been downtown for generations need the continuing support of the community to flourish. Emporia Main Street realizes the positive success of business built by Emporians for Emporians and community support is vital to the effectiveness of filling vacant building space. There is no one entire block that is empty. Emporia Main Street proudly boasts one of the largest downtown districts in the Mid West region. We also work with local realtors and building owners to market business opportunities through the ‘Real Estate’ page on our website at www.emporiamainstreet.com, making building information available for anyone interested. You may also do a public parcel search at www.lyoncounty.org for a specific property you are interested in.
quarterback: I heard main street is going to have wireless internet in downtown Emporia. How far will it reach and when will it be available? Where is main street getting the funding to do this?
Kayla Oney: WiFi was one of many amenities requested for downtown by the community in public CID meetings. WiFi is a technology that provides a wireless internet connection to those with laptops, PDAs, phones and other devices that can utilize the technology. While searching for ways to improve technical infrastructure, encourage University students and faculty to create a stronger bond with Emporia, encourage businesses downtown to update technology, create the basis for more technical businesses and offer an incentive for people to “hang out” downtown, WiFi was recommended as a way to meet those goals. Emporia Main Street is actively researching WiFi opportunities for downtown, not only as a technical benefit, but as a way to market Emporia’s businesses, business opportunities, cultural activities and amenities. As technology contuse to advance, organizations look for ways to capitalize on technological progress for the benefit of the community. Although the Main Street Board of Directors have not authorized acceptance of any WiFi plan for downtown, we are actively seeking innovative funding initiatives that include Main Street fundraisers, private donations, private grants and public grants to fund modern programs with proven results.
quarterback: What ever happened to the sidewalk sale? How has retailing changed for downtown merchants as compared to 20 or 30 years ago?
Kayla Oney: The sidewalk sale has evolved from the traditional sidewalk sale that some citizens remember, but it still happens. There are several sale opportunities for citizens in Emporia and surrounding areas to take advantage of downtown including summer sale, Shrine Bowl activities and Great American Market. There are also several downtown events that offer unique shopping opportunities including Artist Walk, carriage rides, Great American Market, Harvest Festival, Shrine Bowl, parades, Farmers Market and extended hours. Thirty years ago, retail was very different. There were more retail clusters, allowing businesses to compete in a natural environment and customer base, giving the consumer choice. CID will incorporate ways to correct this and involve more clustering. ‘Big Box’ retailers have become more prevalent and much larger in the last 30 years and can represent the equivalent of 50+ independent businesses. In the fast-pace society we live in today, we expect to sacrifice quality and service for “convenience”. Independent retailers also have to compete with the Internet for business, which was not an issue 30 years ago.
emporia123: What do rents for a buisness cost in downtown Emporia? What expenses will a landlord pay for if a person wants to open a business?
Kayla Oney: Rental rates vary building to building because of square footage, ownership, utilities, location, and the general market. Expenses for a particular building vary greatly for a landlord. The ‘Real Estate’ page on www.emporiamainstreet.com gives contact information and square footage for available properties. Emporia Main Street will work with building owners and potential business owners to facilitate discussion about assistance through loans, technical assistance and other support through networking in the business community. Contact us directly if there is a specific building you are interested in starting a business in.
emporia123: What businesses are successful that you have seen in other downtown communities that might work in Emporia's downtown?
Kayla Oney: Every community is very different because of the different demographics and market needs. There are many factors that affect demographics and market needs in each community and the best solution is for each community to identify those needs. Kansas Main Street (of which Emporia Main Street is a member of) has grants available for Main Street communities to assess their market needs. Emporia took advantage of this service and had a market study completed in 2004 by Richard Caplan & Associates. These studies are generally accurate for up to ten years. Three years ago, Emporia Main Street worked hard to recruit some “chain” businesses in the areas of children’s clothing and accessories, which was one of the identified markets. As mentioned before, local entrepreneurs are the best recruits for business development downtown and Main Street has resources to help these businesses get started.
momus: What steps is Main Street to open more businesses and redevelop downtown?
Kayla Oney: Emporia Main Street utilizes the Main Street Four-Point Approach as defined by the National Main Street Center at www.mainstreet.org for a comprehensive approach to downtown development. This covers Promotion—events and traffic building activities, Design—aesthetics, appeal, environment and historic preservation, Business Enhancement—business education, training, development, and Organization—fundraising, budget and organizational structure. The continuation of the Entrepreneurship course, availability of 0% loans, opportunities for training for businesses and other numerous resources have helped new businesses who want to take advantage of the benefits. The CID will help give the Emporia community a plan for the future of downtown development, as it is vital to keep the heart of Emporia pumping. CID will function as a general road map to assist development, while respecting the historical integrity of downtown and current businesses.
powercat: Have you had studies done about Emporia's downtown. What did the consultants recommend? What work has been done to follow their plans?
Kayla Oney: In 2004, the Caplan study was completed, which highlighted possible markets that could be developed downtown. Clothing was a general category with a gap and specifically children’s clothing was cited as a need. That year Madelynn’s moved downtown and added a baby line and The Villager added baby items as well as children’s clothing, too. Other stores have added more clothing and shoes also, as the information from the study became available. The study also highlighted marketing current services, businesses and events more to increase awareness among residents. Cooperative marketing efforts through the Destination Business Council, a partnership between Emporia Main Street and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, a been a success in getting more residents in outlying communities to buy in Emporia. Another point of the study was to continue relationship building efforts with potential entrepreneurs. Emporia Main Street is here to offer assistance to any person interested in starting a business and I strongly encourage anyone to contact me at 340-6430 or by email main.street@emporia-kansas.gov if interested in starting a business.
Peyton: What can someone do if they want to volunteer with Emporia Main Street?
Kayla Oney: We are always happy to add volunteers for downtown clean-ups, joining a committee or working on a specific aspect of an event. Please contact 340-6430 or visit our website at www.emporiamainstreet.com and submit your contact information and interests.
Moderator: That's our chat for today. Thanks to Kayla Oney for taking the time to come to The Gazette to answer questions, and thanks to those who submitted the questions. A transcript of this chat and previous Gazette chats is available here at www.emporiagazette.com. A transcript of this chat will also be published in Wednesday's Gazette. Until the next time ...